How To Tune Up Your Treestand

There are plenty of ways to learn how to tune up your treestand, and it’s some worthy knowledge as the fall and winter seasons wrap up.

Safety should always be at the forefront of any hunter’s mind when they use treestands, and the end of a season is a great time to do some upkeep before packing away the accessory until next year’s hunt.

You’ll want to do a visual inventory of all the parts and pieces to your treestand, making sure every element is in place and working properly. Belts can break down, critters can cause damage, and the wear and tear of an entire season in a stand will take its toll. Make sure everything is in order.

Now’s also a good time to tighten any screws or bolts, and verify their secureness. If your treestand includes cables, inspect them to make sure there are no signs of stress or malfunction.

Double check all ropes and lines, whether they were holding the stand in place or merely used to drag gear into the tree. Make sure they are all strong enough to continue through another year, or replace them if they need it.

If components are getting beat up, such as the seat or footrest, consider some DIY maintenance. Some heavy duty tarp material and some sewing skills can fix a torn seat cover, and some nuts and bolts can help tune up a footrest just fine. Before you attempt any self-made alterations, confirm your skills and equipment to make sure you’re not jeopardizing your safety.

Basically, any treestand maintenance is good maintenance as long as you have verified your abilities to work on it. If you’re in doubt of your mechanical skills, consider taking your treestand to the dealer that you purchased it from, as they may carry extra parts and have knowledgeable staff members who can help.

Otherwise, if you can’t imagine getting into a tree for one more year with the same stand you’ve been hunting in for a while, it may very well be time to invest in a new one. It’s a good time to do so, as many of the top retailers are putting treestands and other fall hunting gear on sale as spring approaches.

Above all, keep your treestand in good shape, because there’s no one to blame but yourself should anything malfunction. It’s up to you to take responsibility and ensure your safety while out in the field, which is the case not only for treestands, but for any outdoor activity.